This paper presents a preliminary, qualitative assessment of termite damage in agriculture within the Amazonian region. The vast majority of farms are small holdings, of between 10 and 100 hectares, so no quantitative assessment of losses throughout the region has been attempted. A visual assessment suggests that individual crop losses due to termite attack may be as high as 65%. Current chemical control techniques are reviewed.
INTRODUÇÃOOs cupins, ou térmitas, formam a pequena e primitiva ordem Isoptera, no complexo orthopteroide. Todos os representantes da ordem são sociais, mas a origem da sociabilidade nos cupins é desconhecida. O estudo sobre estes insetos começou há dois séculos com as atividades de exploradores e naturalistas amadores, como os ingleses Henry Smeathman na África e Henry Walter Bates no Brasil. Infelizmente, após este período de exploração, pouco foi feito para conhecer melhor a biologia e ecologia dos térmitas neotropicais, em comparação com os numerosos estudos sobre as faunas de outras regiões tropicais.Os primeiros estudos sérios sobre a fauna brasileira de cupins foram feitos por Rena- Existem no Brasil cerca de 200 espécies descritas de cupins, mas pouco se sabe sobre sua biologia e ecologia. A riqueza de espécies na floresta hileiana. ou amazônica, é bem evidente para árvores, vertebrados e alguns insetos comuns. Richards (1973) indica que a floresta amazônica contêm mais espécies de plantas e animais do que qualquer outro ecossistema do mundo. Cupins formam uma grande proporção da biomassa de invertebrados na Amazônia Central (Fittkau & Klinge, 1973), mas sobre suas populações na região amazô-nica pouco é sabido. O único trabalho publicado nesta área é um estudo da fauna de cupins em floresta primária no parque nacional do Tapajós (Bandeira. 1979b).No presente estudo, foram examinadas as populações e ecologia geral de cupins em quatro locais diferentes. Os dados ecológicos estão apresentados e discutidas as diferenças entre os locais e entre as quatro populações de cupins.
AREAS DE ESTUDOEsta pesquisa foi realizada principalmente na estação ecológica Anavilhanas, da Secretaria Especial do Meio Ambiente (SEMA) do ACTA AMAZÔNICA 12(1) : 53-60. 1982 -53
ABSTRACT. The toxicity and biological activity of the defensive secretions of ten species of neotropical termites were examined by bioassay on two species of predatory ant. Pseudomyrmex termitarius (F. Smith) (Pseudomyrmecinae) was more susceptible to the effects of the secretions than Ectatomma sp. (Ponerinae). The bioassay results show a progression in the nature of termite chemical weaponry and in the potency of defensive secretions. The tacky secretions used by Coptotermes and Ruptitermes are simply adhesive, entangling agents with no apparent toxic or pheromonal properties. The secretion of Syntermes calvus Emerson serves as a wound‐active poison with little topical activity, while those of Armitermes spp. are repellent to ants and show activity as topical poisons. The secretions used by Nasutitermes spp. combine adhesive, entangling properties with the toxicity of a topically‐active poison, and are effective also as ant‐repellents.
The termite family Termitidae comprises four subfamilies: Apicotermitinae, Macrotermitinae, Termitinae and Nasutitermitinae. Keys are given here to the genera of the Termitinae and Nasutitermitinae found in the New World. The keys rely on morphological features of the soldier caste; for this reason no key is provided to the soldierless apicotermitine genera found in the New World. The Macrotermitinae are absent from the region.
Field rodents are serious pests of growing rice throughout South-east Asia. Traditional control measures by smallholders involve excessive use of rodenticides and are largely unsuccessful. During the past decade, government agencies and international organizations have developed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes, to minimize farmers’ reliance on rodenticides. Their integrated rice rat control scheme combines habitat manipulation, correct use of rodenticides and a practical, farmer-operated surveillance process. The scheme has worked well in different rice agroecosystems throughout Indonesia and is ready for adoption on a wider scale.
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